F4r van (the death van)

[Williamspaul]

Here's a little project I started by accident it just sort of landed in my lap really I've always wanted another Clio van since I used to have a ph1 white one with a hybrid Williams engine but didn't think there was any left untill a friend of mine got hold of this one it wasn't long before it developed a coolant leak and killed the engine he gave me the car in exchange for a couple of favours .

The donor car was a ph2 172 and I had just enough stuff laying around from a ph1 I broke to get it going so the van no runs a 172 ph2 engine with a ph1 inlet box loom and ECU 182 manifold it also runs 172 wide track and brakes I sold off all the bits off the 172 and I've managed to do the conversion for free and even made money the only real cost was getting the ECU de immobilised

Conversion was done over a few days with help from my friend Peter tacking the loom late one evening the car was originally diesel do I changed the fuel tank and filler neck and entire car loom as I couldn't work out if petrol and diesel looms were the same and it got rid of the bodger in aftermarket immobiliser at the same time

It seems to have got itself the name the death van some how while I was at Mallory and it seems to have stuck i really wasn't sure I liked it when I first got it on the road but I've really fallen in love with it now and have been enjoying driving it alot more on the road than the 297 was a bit much for the road

Also it was a pH 3 and I couldn't have that do I had to fit a ph2 front end

 

[Williamspaul]

 

[Williamspaul]

Good day at Surrey rolling road gave me some unexpected results

 

[Williamspaul]

 

[White16valver]

Love this.

I am sad I never managed to get the Vanver up and running but I think it might be on the road somewhere.

Will you run it on the road? I found getting insurance a total PITA because van insurers won't touch modified stuff (because they think you are a tradesmen with already-higher claims risk).

If you ever think about selling it...

 

[Williamspaul]

I do remember a thread about a vanver long time ago did it never get finished

 

[White16valver]

I do remember a thread about a vanver long time ago did it never get finished

I think Haz's friend put it together and then sort of gave up on it - IIRC it might have had a slight gearbox issue which tipped him over the edge after all the work to get it running, lol.

Either way, lack of funds meant it sat for several years before it had to go

I believe it may have subsequently been bought to be put back on the road but I'm not sure. I hope it lives - it was still in great nick.

 

[Williamspaul]

Tow bars useful

 

[Williamspaul]

Been earning it's keep collecting parts for the yellow valver

 

[Williamspaul]

Fitted the new airbox today it's a V6 box with a ph2 intake routed over the throttle cable seems to work ok

 

[Williamspaul]

Fresh new tyres for the van too go on its new steel wheels

 

[Martin_172]

love it! anymore plans for it?

im almost finished mine too

 

[Williamspaul]

Van love

Eventually it will be getting the cammed engine out of my valver (also f4r) the clutch too and the gearbox will need a rebuild at some point and I need to do some welding to the n/s cill should have the new wheels fitted by the weekend for extra sleeper effect

 

[Williamspaul]

Finally got round to fitting the colour coded RT bumper been putting it off for over six months now as it involves removing the tow bar but I'm glad I did as it's fixed the exhaust knock was knocking on a bolt so I turned it around

 

[Williamspaul]

Got it's first wash today too witch highlighted the red oxide on the sills and arches so I rattle canned them looks much better

 

[Williamspaul]

So after learning when the van was on the rolling road that it runs a little lean at the top and bottom (almost misfires at about 2k ) I decided the ageing 1.2 fuel pump was the issue do I fitted a valver fuel pump unfortunately it still seems to be the same

 

[White16valver]

Will you try upgrading to a 1*2 fuel pump?

If you have fuel pressure but not enough fuel, perhaps the injectors need cleaning? Or there's an air leak in the intake system somewhere??

 

[Bluebeard]

I put a Warlbro 255 pump in the valver housing on mine.

 

[Williamspaul]

I'm not sure if a 172 pump fits in the valver tank

 

[Williamspaul]

Got round to "refurbishing" the steel wheels and fitting some new tyres pilot sport 3 obviously

 

[Williamspaul]

So after a brilliant day in the death van at castle coombe the gearbox s**t itself it's been crunching for a while now but it finally happened luckily I made it home and to work where it stayed for a month till two days before the spa/ring trip I decided to pull my finger out

So I managed to throw it together just in time for the trip getting the tracking done moments before we were about to leave the van was nearly faultless the whole trip only the exhaust falling off spa finished that off but didn't cost me too much down time got it fixed during lunch what track can't wait till next trip

 

[Williamspaul]

Ring although massively over hyped and over priced was still good van was faultless

 

[White16valver]

Awesome

'People' bang on about french cars being unreliable but they really aren't and enjoy being used!


I hope you were overtaking that McLaren in the picture lol

If you ever want to get rid, let me know!

 

[Williamspaul]

The photo is photoshopped lol but I have a video of over taking said McLaren

 

[Williamspaul]

So the loved death van popped a brake cylinder so I thought it was time I updated the brakes on the rear so the disk conversion was the only real option unfortunately as it's a van I had to remove some of the boot floor

 

[Williamspaul]

Banished the drum beam and got the disk beam on other than one spinning captive bolt it was a peice of cake obviously I gave it appropriate death van lows I'm quite happy with the results it seems alot stiffer at the rear

 

[Coops Mk1]

Death van ftw

 

[Williamspaul]

After a last minute decision late new year's Eve in minus 2 we decided to paint and attach a Williams spoiler I'm quite happy with the results tbf

 

[plees]

Absolutely love this!

 

[Williamspaul]

Cheers bud 😘

 

[Coops Mk1]

heap, mega heap

 

[Williamspaul]

Fitted electric windows too 😁 I did this the easiest way possible replace the door

 

[Coops Mk1]

you know my thoughts, should of stuck with windy ones as much cooler and in keeping with the poverty spec of a van

 

[Asher172]

Looks so good on those steel wheels. Would you mind telling me hat they came off? Would be interested to see if i could source some for my track car

 

[Williamspaul]

Wh

you know my thoughts, should of stuck with windy ones as much cooler and in keeping with the poverty spec of a van

When u get your van you can fit manual Windows

 

[Williamspaul]

Looks so good on those steel wheels. Would you mind telling me hat they came off? Would be interested to see if i could source some for my track car

The wheels are the spare off a Clio 16v

 

[Cookson]

I remember having windy windows in my novavan. Always forgot it had door bars on the cage and smashed my knuckles in 😬

 

[Williamspaul]

Vans been earning it's keep again at the weekend transporting over 500kg of battery's ffs good thing I raised the back up a bit

 

[Krarl]

Proper pikey, I love it😂😂

 

[Robbie Corbett]

Straight on the seat, they look nice as well